Book-holder.



W. T. REED. BOOK' HOLDER. APPlIlCATlON-FILED MAY-13. 1914.

1,228,136. Pal tntd May 29,1917.

ornrc.

wear '1. REED, or MILWAUKEE, isconsin.

' BOOK-HOLDER.

Application filed May 13, 1914. Serial No. 838,222.

To all ill/1.0m 2t may concern:

Be 1t known that I, VVnRT T. REED, a-

, citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in thecounty of Milwaukee and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bookliolders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention has for its objectto provide, as a new article of manufacture, a simple, economical and eflicient book-holding bracket, the same being so constructed and arranged that a book may be supported at a convenient visual angle and at the same time held flatly open at the desired page without obstructing the reading matter thereon, it. being understood that the bracket is also capable of being utilized as a book-marker only, under which condition the support therefor is folded upon the body of the bracket.

With the above objects in view the invention consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts as set forth hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1. represents a face view of a bookholder bracket embodying the features of my invention, the same being shown withv parts broken away and in, section to more clearly illustrate the construction and with dotted lines indicating the outline of a book fitted therein;

Fig. 2, a similar view of a modified form of my invention, and I Fig. 3, a side elevation of said modified form.

Referring by characters tothe drawings, 1 represents a backing strip which is preferably formed from a thin metal plate covered by suitable ornamental material. The lower horizontal edge of the plate is bent upon itself to form an upwardly ex tending lip 2, which lip is spaced a predetermined distance fronithe face of the plate to form a receiving cavity for an openbook. The central portion of the lip is merged into an elongated extension forming a tongue 3, which tongue is adapted to engage the fold between the leaves of the book and thus hold said book in an open position Without obstructing the reading matter upon the pages thereof and the semisired position.

circular lip at thev base of the tongue is also of such dimensions as to only engagethe margin of the leaves of said book. Hence it is apparent that a book'ofany size, after being openedat the desired pages, canfbe. inserted between the backing and the confining mechanism comprisingithe lip and;

tongue to thus hold said book in the desired I open position for perusal;

In order to support the book at the'proper strip 1 is provided with afleg '4. that is hingedly connected to said backing and folds to thus hold said book in a desired I open. position. In this exemplification of my invention the top lip 2 is connected to the upper horizontal edge of the backing strip 1 by means of a spring hinge 5, whereby said lip may be swung open in order to facilitate the insertion of the book. In this form of lip it is apparent that the spring hinge will serve to more effectually flatten out the book and hold it in the de- It is also apparent that I may, without departing from the spirit of my invention, utilize rigid upper and lower lips for engagement with the book similar to the rigid lips 2 or 2", as shown respectively in Figs. 1 and 20f the drawings.

It is also within the scope of my invention to utilize a tongue similar to that shown in Fig. 1, in'connection with either or both lips as shown in the modified form, it being apparent that the tongue may, in some instances, be of such resiliency as to permit expansion'and contraction, whereby the book is moresecurely held between its pages. 7

When it is desired to use the holder bracket as a book-marker only, the leg 4' the thickness of said book when closed.

This device is particularly convenient and desirable for use in connection with bibles or prayer books that are carried back and forth from places of worship, and its simplicity of construction is therefore essential.

. I claim:

As a new article of manufacture, a combined book-holder and marker comprising, in combination, a body plate acting as a support for the back of a book and having one end portion directed laterally and inwardly to form a leaf receiving recess, a centrally disposed tongue of restricted width formed integral with said end portion and extending upwardly at a spaced distance from the face of said plate, a lip on the other end of said body and having a spring hinged connection therewith, said spring connection tending to urge said lip toward the face of said plate to more securely retain the book in the holder, and supporting means carried by the plate for holding the same in an inclined position, said supporting means being foldable to lie against the body of the plate to adapt the device for use as a marker, substantially as.

described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee in the county of Milwaukee and State of VViS- consin in the presence of two witnesses.

l/VERT T. REED.

Witnesses:

N. E. OLIPHANT, M. E. DOWNEY.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

